Senate Confirms R. Gil Kerlikowske and Debo Adegbile Vote Breakdown

On March 6, 2014, the Senate confirmed R. Gil Kerlikowske to be the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Kerlikowske has been the Director of National Drug Control Policy since 2009 and previously served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services at the Department of Justice.

After careful evaluation, NAPO pledged our support for Mr. Kerlikowske’s nomination in August 2013. NAPO has a strong working relationship with Mr. Kerlikowske, who has 37 years of law enforcement and drug policy experience, including serving nine years as Chief of Police in Seattle, Washington, and five years as Police Commissioner in Buffalo, New York.

Mr. Kerlikowske has been a dedicated career public servant, and has continually evidenced his integrity, strong judgment, and commitment to the law enforcement mission. NAPO looks forward to working with Mr. Kerlikowske in the future.

Senate Blocks Nomination for Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at DOJ

As was reported earlier this week, the Senate voted 47-52 to block the nomination of Debo Adegbile to be the next Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. Democrats Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Chris Coons of Delaware, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, and John Walsh of Montana joined Republicans in voting against the nominee. (A full vote breakdown is below).

NAPO expended all available efforts to oppose Mr. Adegbile’s nomination. Under Mr. Adegbile’s leadership, the Legal Defense Fund of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People volunteered their services to defend Mumia Abu-Jamal, a convicted cop-killer. Abu-Jamal was convicted of murdering Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1982. The nominee’s efforts led to the overturning of the just sentence Abu-Jamal received for murdering a valuable member of the law enforcement community.

NAPO takes great care and effort to evaluate all nominees. If you have any questions about NAPO’s endorsement of Mr. Kerlikowske or our opposition to Mr. Adegbile’s nomination, please contact Melissa Nee at: mnee@napo.org.

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Vote Breakdown: Adegbile Nomination - Cloture

Senate Roll Call Vote 48

Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on President Barack Obama's nomination of Debo P. Adegbile of New York to be assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Division.